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(N0 Madel.)

J. S.- THOMPSON.

. BLIND SLAT HOLDER. "No. 255,699. Patented 'Mar.'28,'188:2.

WITNESSES: INVENTUR= (5W %A%zf PPPPPPPPP howutm n w. Wnhlngton. o. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. THOMPSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BLIND-SLAT HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,699, dated March 28, 1882. Application filed May 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. THOMPSON, of Brooklyn Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blind-Slat Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to those devices which are applied to the loosely-pivoted slats of shutters for the purpose of rendering them sufficiently tight in their frame, or for producing snffieient friction between the slats and the frame to enable the slats to remain in any position to which they may be adjusted.

My invention presen tsa very simple and effieientdeviee ofthis class; and it consists, briefly, in a simple spring or strip of metal bent at one end into a loop or fork to slide upon and embrace the end ofthe shutter-slat, and curved at the opposite end into a spring-tongue to bear upon the inside of the shutter-frame, so as to form a simple and effective frictional catch which holds the slats at any position in which they may be set.

Figure 1 of the annexed drawings presents an edge view or front elevation of my improved blind-slat holder or eatch-sprin g, shown separate or detached. Fig. 2 presents a fragmentary view of the shutter with the spring applied thereto, and shown sprung into its working position. Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a shutter fitted with in improved catehsprin g.

As shown in Fig. 1, the holder or catchspring A is formed of a simple flat strip of sprin gy metal, preferably spring-brass, of suitable Width and thickness, or about such as shown in the drawings, and this strip is bent into a number of folds, so as to resemble the figure 5 or like the letter S, with the lower loop flattened and curved up over the upper loop, as illustrated. This device A has thus a spring loop or fork, a, at one end, and a spring-tongue,

b,at the opposite end, which tongue lies vertically or at about rightangles to the opening of the loop. The loop ais made a snug fit for the shutter-slat over which it is adapted .to slide, while the spring-tongue b is adapted to lie between the end of the slatand the shutter-frame, and bears with an elastic pressure upon the inside ofthe frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. From these figures it will be readily understood how the device is applied to the shutter-viz., by springing the device between the end of the slat and the inside of the shutter-frame and sliding theloop a edgewise upon the end corner of the slat, as seen hestin Fig. 3. Hence, when the device is released it becomes securely affixed upon the slat by means of its spring-loop a, while the tongue b springs out against the frame and bears with sufficient friction thereon to neutralize the looseness of the pivoted slats in the frame and enable the slats to remain set at whatever angle they may be adjusted. The attachment of the device to the shutter is thus not only very easy and simple, but also very secure, as the most frequentworking of the slats does not displace the device, while the spring-tongue constantly acts as a brake to retain the slats in any desired position, which advantages of efficiency, with the simple and inexpensive construction of the device, together with its durable nature, render my invention a desirable improvement in this numerous class of devices.

It will be noted that the extreme end of the 'springtongue b terminates with a hook or bend, c, which overlies the loop a, so that in the upward movement of the device the camlike face of the spring will be prevented from moving too far downward and catching in the wood of the shutter-frame by the bend 0 resting against the top of the loop a.

I am aware that it is not new to ,provide blinds with springs adapted to hold their slats in the positions desired, and therefore I do not broadly claim a spring for the purpose set forth, my device being confined to a catch bent from a single piece of spring metal, adapted to be sprung upon the end of a blindslat and moving with the same in a circle concentric with the pivot, so as to present a springarm to travel against the shutter-frame.

I deem the inwardly-bent arm or hook important, extending as it does sufticiently over the slat when in position to make the said slat abut against it when it is raised and break its frictional contact with the shutters.

What I claim is- The blind-slat holding-spring herein described, adapted to lie between the end of the slat and the shutter-frame, and to move in a circle concentric with the slat-pivot, composed ofasingle piece ofspringmetahbent as shown, [the spring-arm and free it from the frame in to form a l00p,a, adapted to be sprung upon case it binds, substantially as and for the pur- [O theend-of the slat, aspring-tongne, 1), adapted pose specified.

to have frictional contact with the inner surface of the shutter-frame and an inwardly-extending arm, 0, extending over the clamp a, upon which arm the impinging end of the slat while being raised will strike, and thereby lift JOHN S. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

J. CONRAD SOHANZ, JOHN T. BnooKs. 

